Small Town Girl Read Online Free Page A

Mike’s face. She was surely lower than the lowest worm to be thinking such thoughts on the happiest day of her sister’s life. Mike had chosen Evie. Kate had never even been in the running. She was just the younger sister.
    Her eyes landed on Mike’s friend standing at the altar with him. Jay Tanner smiled at her, and she had the uncomfortable feeling the man had caught her unguarded look at Mike. That he was guessing things about her she had kept hidden from everybody in Rosey Corner. If so, he’d just have to guess again. She gave him a chilly look that didn’t dim his smile at all. Instead he looked like he might be biting his lip to keep from laughing. At her.
    Let him laugh. She didn’t care. She lifted her chin and turned her eyes away from him back toward Reverend Haskell, who seemed to finally be winding down toward the end of the ceremony at last. She had the prickly feeling Jay Tanner was still watching her, but she wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of looking back toward him.
    She’d met men like Jay Tanner. Men who thought they could charm any girl they met just because the Lord had blessed them with good looks. Definitely not her type. She liked men who were sincere and loyal, true to their beliefs, strong and capable. A man like the man marrying her sister.
    “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride.” Reverend Haskell looked up from his Bible to smile at Mike.
    Mike didn’t smile back. He looked as serious as Kate had ever seen him when he turned toward Evie. Beads of sweat were leaking down from his forehead and sliding around his eyebrows, but he paid no attention. He lifted up the veil from in front of Evie’s face and carefully draped it back overher hair. Then he stared at her for a long moment before he leaned down to whisper in her ear. “I will love you forever, my beautiful Evangeline.”
    Kate, standing so close beside Evie, heard his every word before he covered Evie’s lips with his. Kate couldn’t see Evie’s face, but she had to believe she was exploding with happiness. What girl wouldn’t be?
    Mrs. Taylor started pounding out the recessional Evie had insisted she learn. The woman’s fingers stumbled over some of the notes, but nobody gave much notice. They were all watching their preacher tuck his new bride’s hand up under his arm to escort her out of the church toward their new life together. Every face was smiling. Sharing in the joy of the moment.
    As Kate took Jay Tanner’s arm to follow the newlyweds down the aisle, she saw so many people she loved in the pews. Kate’s father had his arm tight around her mother as she dabbed away a few tears. Tori and Sammy were looking at each other as though wishing they were the ones saying “I do.” Lorena had jumped to her feet and clasped her hands together. Kate winked at her and Lorena’s smile got even bigger. She was practically sparkling.
    A few seats behind them, she spotted Graham Lindell, who turned his smile from Evie to raise his eyebrows at Kate as though asking if she was going to be next. Kate gave her head a tiny shake, and his shoulders shook with a silent laugh. She searched on through the faces in the church until her eyes landed on Aunt Hattie in the back pew. The little black woman’s hands were lifted up toward the ceiling and her face was an explosion of happy wrinkles. Graham’s sister, Fern, was right beside her with her hair combed and wearing what looked to be a new dress. Even Fern was smiling as much as Fern ever smiled.
    The whole church was practically pulsing with happiness. Kate could feel it hopping from person to person. She wasn’t a bit surprised when one of the men in the back corner laughedright out loud. Everybody was happy for Evie. Happy for Mike. Kate was smiling too. Inside and out. How could she not on this day when her sister had to be the happiest girl in the world? And the luckiest.
    Kate’s smile didn’t even dim when Jay Tanner gave her another